New Ulm weekly review., 1887-04-13

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bent her attention on Jacob Browne,
who evidently imagined himself a typ
lcal Ohm Alden. A strange. nervous
desire to laugh shook her frame as
she looked up at the red face and
heavy frame Of the stripping, John
Alden
Not Captain Alden, but alank, lean-fa
vored and decidedly meek looking man
represented the staunch little Puritan
captain, Miles Standish.
However, the poem went along with.
out bitches, and everybody was inter
ested and not inclined to be critical,
until there came the scene in the
cottage. As John Alden poured
forth the praises of the captain who
had no time to WOO, and drew down
the sharp, wounded replies of the
maiden, Mary felt a pair Of dark eyes
searching her face, and just as she ut
tered the words, "Why don't you
speak for yourself, John?" some power
which seemed to be beyond her control
lifted her eyes to the ministers face
He was looking through her eyes and
down into her heart. He held her
gaze. Shecould not withdraw it, while
his eyes said to her:
II know you love me, now you have
said it,
His name was John.
Then suddenly the color flashed like
a flame to the girls forehead and over
her throat and bosom. She faltered.
All eyes were upon her Then
her color left her white as
snow. She trembled .visibly
and bowed her head. She lifted it,
bit her lips. A hot red place came in
her cheeks. John Alden had rushed
wildly away, when-Boom! Boom
Boom! came resounding sullenly on
the air, a sound they knew too we'll
Every man sprang to his feet.
"a ship In distress!" cried a, voice
like thunder. "Alan the life boat!
Man the life boatn'
There We're rapid robings and rush
from the church and down the village
street toward the shore.
Oh, the sullenr oar of the waters!
Oh! the binding of the snow! Oh, the
guns booming signal of distress!
Mary rushing down the street found
g. heavy coat thrown around her.
Then she bethought herself of her un-
accustomed open-t -throated dress.
Oh, the sullen roar of merciless wa
ters! Oh, the thought of human crea-
lures in peril of life in the snowy blank
and blackness of waters beyond And
yet the girls heart was hot within her
as she dashed through the snow; mad
with JOY, for that look which had
said: II love you;'' yet wildly angry
that he should have compelled her
eyes to his just as she said those
words. She felt the hot blood rush
up to her forehead with shame at the
thought, ,even in the cold and thesnoW
and the wind.
II will never forgive him! Never!
never! never!"
And then her heart smote her for
thought of self at such a. time, and
she ran yet more swiftly toward the
shore. The steps of a. man were fol-
lowing, though she heard them not in
the snow. He wore no overcoat to
save him from the cold,
On shore men we're already lighting
bonfres TO throw out light upon the
water; and lanterns, like stars, were
moving here and there. Matches
were applied to the heaps of straw
and drift-wood anil tar and seaweeds,
and the flames sprang up to throw
strange lights and shadows on the fall
ing snow, and sullen black waters
which rose and broke in white foam.
Now the life boat is launched. Who
will man her? How the wind blows!
How the snow blinds and deceives!
Who will venture life for life?
A dozen stalwart men leap in. The
minister is with them. He takes a
hand at the oars and pulls with the
skill acquired in college racing clubs
day off shore.
What weird scene it is! A dozen
fires throw up a lurid glare, and snow
falls kissing on the flames. Here are
women. wrapped in the first thing
which came to hand. One wears a
mans coat immensely too large They
shield their eyes from the glare of the
fires with their hands and peer anx-
iously into the darkness, trying to
follow the lifeboat; trying to see
the struggling ship. Thinking Of hus-
bands, brothers, lovers, lost at sea,
they send up silent, agonizing prayers
to the Eternal Father who bounds
the restless waves. They know the
perils OF those who 60 to sea in ships.
A faint s'halloo!" from the impene-
trable white darkness tells them the
boat has reached the ship. Then
silent suspense and deeper prayers,
till the boat appears again, toiling in
rowing.
All, what wild cheers arise as she
comes to shore, and seven men, half
dead with Nold are given up to the
waiting hands which shall take them
to warm fresides, and mix for them
hot drinks and turn them into COM
Portable beds.
Then the boat is pushed out again
and disappears in the Witty darkness
to return by-and-by with another half
dead freight.
Aud so they continue for many
hours, for the sinking ship holds many
souls, until-oh, Joy! the last boat
E